Concord to consider zoning amendment to allow development of open space

By VINCE SULLIVAN

Monday, October 1, 2012

CONCORD -- The board of supervisors will vote tonight on a proposed zoning amendment that would allow a not-for-profit real estate company to develop more than 300 acres of open space.

Woodlawn Trustees Inc., plans to build more than 1,000 homes on a 324-acre tract of property along Beaver Valley Road. The company owns the land and the homes and stables that currently occupy it. The proposal calls for a 55-and-older community, as well as other multi-unit and single-family homes. A large commercial facility is also proposed for the southeastern corner of the project area near Route 202.

Residents of surrounding properties are upset about the proposal and plan to voice their opposition at the hearing tonight. Eileen Mutschler has lived in her home off of Beaver Valley Road for 33 years and is concerned about the development, which will come within 100 feet of her front door. She and her family own about 40 acres of land where they own and board horses, a popular activity in the area. Her main worry is the reconfiguration of the multitude of horse trails that criss-cross the area. The trails traverse Woodlawn Trustees' property and are open to the public for horseback riding, walking, jogging and cycling.

"I commend Woodlawn for trying to give us the trail system," Mutschler said. "I've been walking down these trails for 60 years."

The draft development plan will drastically alter the trail system, though many will still open for public use. Some of the existing trails will be moved much closer to nearby roadways, which could cause problems for the many horseback riders that utilize the paths.

The Wilmington, Del.-based Woodlawn Trustees Inc. was founded in 1901 and is a tax-paying, not-for-profit real estate company, according to its website. Through "carefully planned development," the company earns money to fund projects that advance its core missions, which are stated as preservation of open space and providing rental housing to people of modest means.

A message left for Woodlawn Trustees Chief Operating Officer Vernon J. Green was not returned as of press time Monday night.

The zoning ordinance to be discussed tonight seeks to change the zoning of 12 land parcels along Beaver Valley Road and Watkin Avenue. The land is currently zoned as a mixture of R-2D Residence District, R-PRD-1 and C1 Commercial District. The proposed amendment would change the classification of all 12 parcels to the newly created R-PRD-4 Residence-Planned Residential Development District. The new classification would allow the land to be used for commercial and residential purposes.

The area of the 12 parcels totals about 324 acres.

The zoning hearing will be held immediately following the regularly scheduled supervisors meeting, which is set to begin at 6 tonight at the township building, 43 Thornton Road.